Sky Digital (UK)

For a wider corporate history and profile see: British Sky Broadcasting.

Sky Digital is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2°E (Astra 2A/2B/2D) and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E.

BSkyB's analogue broadcasts ceased in 2001, so the service is now more commonly marketed as just Sky.

History

Evolution of UK satellite television

Sky Digital was officially launched on 1 October 1998, although small-scale tests were carried out before then. For the first time, BSkyB used the newly-launched Astra 2 satellites, which have since come to broadcast exclusively to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. At this time the use of the Sky Digital brand made an important distinction between the new service and Sky's analogue services. Key selling points were the improvement in picture and sound quality, increased number of channels and an interactive service branded Open.... Sky Digital competed with the ON Digital terrestrial offering.

New Astra satellites joined the position in 2000, and the number of channels available to customers increased accordingly. This trend continued with the launch of Eurobird 1 in 2001.

In recent years the Sky Plus (Sky+) was launched. This digital video recorder with internal hard drive allows viewers to 'pause live television' (by switching from a live feed to a paused real-time recording that can be restarted at any point) and schedule programs to record in the future. Sky launched HDTV services in May 2006. The first photos of a prototype SkyHD receiver began appearing in magazines in August 2005. All SkyHD receivers incorporate a version of Sky Plus using a 300GB hard drive (of which 160GB is available to the user) to accommodate the necessary extra data.

Additionally, some channels occasionally receive new numbering — However, in early 2006, the majority of channels received new numbering, with some receiving single digit changes, whilst others received new numbers entirely.

Technical information

Sky Digital Minidish

The Sky Digital electronic programme guide, or EPG

Sky Digital's standard definition broadcasts are in DVB-compliant MPEG-2, with the Sky Movies and Sky Box Office channels including optional Dolby Digital soundtracks for recent films, although these are only accessible with a Sky+ box. Sky HD material is broadcast using MPEG-4. Interactive services and 7-day EPG use the proprietary OpenTV system, with set-top boxes including modems for a return path. Sky News, amongst other channels, provides a pseudo-video on demand interactive service by broadcasting looping video streams.

Provided a universal Ku band LNB (9.75/10.600GHz) is fitted at the end of the dish and pointed at the correct satellite constellation, most digital receivers will receive the free to air channels. Some broadcasts are free-to-air and unencrypted, some are encrypted but do not require a monthly subscription (known as free-to-view), some are encrypted and require a monthly subscription, and some are pay-per-view services. To view the encrypted content a Videoguard UK equipped receiver (all of which are dedicated to the Sky Digital service, and cannot be used to decrypt other services) needs to be used. Unofficial CAMs are now available to view the service, although use of them breaks your contract with Sky and invalidates your rights to use the card.

BSkyB has no veto over the presence of channels on their EPG, with open access being an enforced part of their contract with Ofcom to operate the service. Any channel which can get carriage on a suitable beam of a satellite at 28 East is entitled to access to Sky's EPG for a fee, ranging from £15-100,000. Third-party channels which opt for encryption receive discounts ranging from reduced price to free EPG entries, free carriage on a Sky leased transponder, or actual payment for being carried. However, even in this case, Sky does not carry any control over the channels content or carriage issues such as picture quality. Recent years have seen the launch of numerous low-budget channels, often with very poor technical quality.

Due to either limited regional availability of certain channels, or conditions relating to their must-carry status, Sky operate a number of distinct regions for their EPG — with the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the rest of Great Britain having different channel lineups, and Wales having a different EPG order to the rest of Great Britain. The Northern Irish EPG has the most listed channels, with the Republic of Ireland having the least, although the difference is minor — around 6 entries.

Channels

*At the Races — originally operated by Channel 4; now owned by Sky
*Artsworld — purchased in 2005
* Artsworld HD
* Bliss — operated by Chart Show Channels on Sky's behalf
* Flaunt — operated by Chart Show Channels on Sky's behalf
*Scuzz — operated by Chart Show Channels on Sky's behalf
*Sky Active — rebranded from Open...
*Sky Box Office — (Pay-Per-View)
* Sky Box Office Events
* Sky Box Office HD 1 & 2
*Sky Cinema 1
*Sky Cinema 2
*Sky Movies 1 to Sky Movies 10 (these channels supersede Sky Movies Premier 1 through 5 and Sky Movies Max/Moviemax 1 through 4, but not necessarily in that order)
*Sky Movies HD 9 and 10. Dedicated High Definition Television Movie Channels showing same content as Sky Movies 9 and 10 but in HD
*Sky News
*Sky One
* Sky One HD
*Sky Two — rebranded from Sky Mix on 31st October 2005
*Sky Three
*Sky Sports 1
*Sky Sports 2
*Sky Sports 3
*Sky Sports Xtra
* Sky Sports HD
*Sky Sports News
*Sky Travel
* Sky Travel +1
*Sky Travel Extra
* Sky Travel Shop
* Sky Vegas 845 — rebranded from Sky Vegas Live on 19th April 2006
* Sky Vegas 846

EPG

All channels are pay-tv channels on Sky's "Sky World" package, unless stated.

Entertainment

* Channel 101 BBC One (FTA) (RTÉ One in the Republic of Ireland)
* Channel 102 BBC Two (FTA) (RTÉ Two in the Republic of Ireland)
* Channel 103 ITV1 (FTA) (TV3 Ireland in the Republic of Ireland, UTV in Northern Ireland, STV in Scotland)
* Channel 104 Channel 4 (FTV) (TG4 in the Republic of Ireland, S4C Digidol in Wales)
* Channel 105 Five (FTV) (Not available in the Republic of Ireland)
* Channel 106 Sky One
* Channel 107 Sky Two
* Channel 108 Sky Three (FTV)
* Channel 109 UKTV Gold
* Channel 110 UKTV Gold +1
* Channel 111 UKTV G2
* Channel 112 LIVINGtv
* Channel 113 LIVINGtv +1
* Channel 114 LIVINGtv2
* Channel 115 BBC Three (FTA) (not on Republic of Ireland EPG)
* Channel 116 BBC Four (FTA) (not on Republic of Ireland EPG)
* Channel 117 Channel 4 In Wales Only
* Channel 118 ITV2 (FTA) (not on Republic of Ireland EPG)
* Channel 119 ITV3 (FTA) (not on Republic of Ireland EPG)
* Channel 120 ITV4 (FTA) (not on Republic of Ireland EPG)
* Channel 121 Challenge
* Channel 122 Challenge +1
* Channel 123 Player
* Channel 124 Bravo
* Channel 125 Bravo +1
* Channel 126 Paramount Comedy 1
* Channel 127 Paramount Comedy 1 +1
* Channel 128 Paramount Comedy 2
* Channel 129 Sci-Fi
* Channel 130 Sci Fi +1
* Channel 131 Men & Motors (FTA)
* Channel 133 UKTV Drama
* Channel 134 UKTV Drama +1
* Channel 135 S4C Digidol (FTA) Not in Wales
* Channel 137 Life TV (FTA)
* Channel 138 Life 24 (FTA)
* Channel 139 Life Showcase (FTA)
* Channel 140 E4
* Channel 141 E4 +1
* Channel 142 More4
* Channel 143 BBC One Northern Ireland (Republic of Ireland only)
* Channel 144 BBC Two NI (Republic of Ireland only)
* Channel 145 BBC HD
* Channel 146 Sumo TV (FTA)
* Channel 148 BEN (FTA)
* Channel 150 Zone Reality (FTA)
* Channel 151 Zone Reality +1 (FTA)
* Channel 152 Zone Reality Extra (FTA)
* Channel 153 Hallmark Channel
* Channel 155 E!
* Channel 157 Ftn
* Channel 159 OBE (FTA)
* Channel 161 Biography
* Channel 163 Hollywood TV (FTA)
* Channel 165 Bonanza (FTA)
* Channel 169 UKTV G2 +1
* Channel 173 Open Access 2 (FTA)
* Channel 175 RTÉ One (Northern Ireland only)
* Channel 176 RTÉ Two (Northern Ireland only)
* Channel 177 TG4 (Northern Ireland only)
* Channel 179 FX
* Channel 180 FX+
* Channel 181 Information TV (FTA)
* Channel 182 Information TV 2 (FTA)
* Channel 183 Passion TV (FTA)
* Channel 185 ABC1
* Channel 187 Raj TV (FTA)
* Channel 189 More4 +1
* Channel 193 Rapture TV (FTA)
* Channel 195 propeller (FTA)
* Channel 197 Sky One HD
* Channel 199 Eat Cinema (FTA)
* Channel 201 Trouble
* Channel 202 Trouble +1
* Channel 203 Channel m (FTA)
* Channel 205 TTV2

Lifestyle and Culture

* Channel 250 Discovery Real Time
* Channel 251 Discovery Real Time +1
* Channel 252 Discovery Real Time Extra
* Channel 253 Sky Travel
* Channel 254 Sky Travel +1
* Channel 255 Sky Travel Extra
* Channel 256 UKTV Style
* Channel 257 UKTV Style +1
* Channel 258 UKTV Style Gardens
* Channel 259 UKTV Food
* Channel 260 UKTV Food +1
* Channel 261 Travel Channel (FTA)
* Channel 262 Travel Channel +1 (FTA)
* Channel 264 Discovery Home & Health
* Channel 265 Discovery Home & Health +1
* Channel 267 Artsworld
* Channel 268 Artsworld HD
* Channel 269 UKTV Bright Ideas
* Channel 271 Performance Channel
* Channel 273 Fashion TV
* Channel 279 Real Estate TV (FTA)
* Channel 281 Wine TV (FTA)
* Channel 283 Discovery Travel & Living
* Channel 285 The Baby Channel (FTA)

Movies

* Channel 301 Sky Movies 1
* Channel 302 Sky Movies 2
* Channel 303 Sky Movies 3
* Channel 304 Sky Movies 4
* Channel 305 Sky Movies 5
* Channel 306 Sky Movies 6
* Channel 307 Sky Movies 7
* Channel 308 Sky Movies 8
* Channel 309 Sky Movies 9
* Channel 310 Sky Movies 10
* Channel 311 Sky Movies 9 HD
* Channel 312 Sky Movies 10 HD
* Channel 313 Sky Cinema 1
* Channel 314 Sky Cinema 2
* Channel 315 Film4 (FTA)
* Channel 316 Film4 +1 (FTA)
* Channel 319 TCM
* Channel 320 TCM 2
* Channel 321 Zone Horror (FTA)
* Channel 322 Zone Thriller (FTA)
* Channel 323 True Movies (FTA)
* Channel 324 True Movies 2 (FTA)
* Channel 325 Movies4Men (FTA)
* Channel 327 ACTIONMAX (FTA)
* Channel 329 Movies 24

Music

* Channel 340 MTV
* Channel 341 VH1
* Channel 342 MTV Hits
* Channel 343 MTV Base
* Channel 344 MTV Dance
* Channel 345 MTV2
* Channel 346 VH2
* Channel 347 VH1 Classic
* Channel 348 TMF
* Channel 349 The Box
* Channel 350 Kiss TV
* Channel 351 Smash Hits!
* Channel 352 Magic
* Channel 353 Q
* Channel 354 Kerrang! TV
* Channel 355 Chart Show TV (FTA)
* Channel 356 The Vault (FTA)
* Channel 357 B4 (FTA)
* Channel 358 The Hits
* Channel 359 Classic FM TV (FTA)
* Channel 360 channel U (FTA)
* Channel 361 Fizz TV (FTA)
* Channel 362 Bliss
* Channel 364 Scuzz
* Channel 366 Flaunt
* Channel 368 Red TV (FTA)
* Channel 370 r music tv (FTA)
* Channel 372 Just Fabulous TV (FTA)
* Channel 395 Music Choice
* Channel 396 Music Choice Extra (premium)

Sport

* Channel 401 Sky Sports 1
* Channel 402 Sky Sports 2
* Channel 403 Sky Sports 3
* Channel 404 Sky Sports Xtra
* Channel 405 Sky Sports News
* Channel 406 MUTV (premium)
* Channel 408 Sky Sports HD1
* Channel 409 Sky Sports HD2
* Channel 410 British Eurosport
* Channel 411 Eurosport 2 UK
* Channel 413 Motors TV
* Channel 415 At the Races
* Channel 417 Setanta NASN (premium)
* Channel 419 Extreme Sports
* Channel 421 Chelsea TV (premium)
* Channel 423 Golf Channel (FTA)
* Channel 427 TWC (FTA)
* Channel 429 Setanta Sports 1
* Channel 430 Setanta Sports 2
* Channel 432 Racing UK (premium)
* Channel 433 Racing World
* Channel 434 Setanta Ireland
* Channel 436 Celtic TV (premium)
* Channel 438 Rangers TV (premium)
* Channel 440 Sport Nation (FTA)
* Channel 442 ESPN Classic
* Channel 480 Prem Plus (premium)
* Channel 481 Setanta PPV 1 (premium)
* Channel 482 Setanta PPV 2 (premium)

News

* Channel 501 Sky News (FTA)
* Channel 502 Bloomberg Television
* Channel 503 BBC News 24 (FTA)
* Channel 504 BBC Parliament (FTA)
* Channel 505 CNBC Europe
* Channel 506 CNN International (FTA)
* Channel 507 S4C 2 (FTA)
* Channel 509 EuroNews (FTA)
* Channel 510 FOX News
* Channel 511 CCTV-9 (FTA)
* Channel 512 South Asia World (premium)
* Channel 513 NDTV 24x7

Documentaries

* Channel 520 Discovery Channel
* Channel 521 Discovery Channel +1
* Channel 522 Discovery Civilisation
* Channel 523 Discovery Science
* Channel 524 Discovery Wings
* Channel 525 Discovery HD
* Channel 526 National Geographic Channel
* Channel 527 National Geographic Channel +1
* Channel 528 Adventure One
* Channel 529 History Channel
* Channel 530 History Channel +1
* Channel 531 Crime & Investigation Network
* Channel 532 UKTV Documentary
* Channel 533 UKTV Documentary +1
* Channel 534 UKTV People
* Channel 535 Animal Planet
* Channel 536 Animal Planet +1
* Channel 537 UKTV History
* Channel 538 UKTV History +1
* Channel 539 Community Channel (FTA)
* Channel 543 National Geographic HD

Kids

* Channel 601 Cartoon Network
* Channel 602 Toonami
* Channel 603 Boomerang
* Channel 604 Nickelodeon
* Channel 605 Nick Replay
* Channel 606 Nicktoons
* Channel 609 Jetix
* Channel 610 Jetix +1
* Channel 611 Disney Cinemagic
* Channel 612 Disney Cinemagic +1
* Channel 613 Disney Channel
* Channel 614 Disney Channel +1
* Channel 615 Discovery Kids
* Channel 616 CBBC Channel (FTA)
* Channel 617 CBeebies (FTA)
* Channel 618 Nick Jr
* Channel 619 POP (FTA)
* Channel 620 Tiny Pop (FTA)
* Channel 621 Boomerang +1
* Channel 622 Cartoon Network TOO
* Channel 623 Nick Jr 2
* Channel 624 CITV Channel (FTA)
* Channel 625 Playhouse Disney

Shopping

All shopping channels (FTA).
* Channel 630 QVC
* Channel 631 iBuy TV
* Channel 632 iBuy TV 2
* Channel 633 TV Shop
* Channel 634 Ideal World
* Channel 635 price-drop tv
* Channel 636 Pitch TV
* Channel 637 Thomson TV
* Channel 638 Simply Shopping
* Channel 639 Best Direct
* Channel 640 Jewellery Channel
* Channel 641 Simply Ideas
* Channel 642 TV Warehouse 1
* Channel 643 TV Warehouse
* Channel 644 bid tv
* Channel 645 Thomas Cook
* Channel 646 Gems.tv
* Channel 647 Pitch TV Plus
* Channel 648 Best Direct +
* Channel 649 Shop on TV
* Channel 650 Thane Direct
* Channel 651 TV Warehouse Select
* Channel 652 Vector 24/7
* Channel 653 Stop + Shop
* Channel 654 Price Crash
* Channel 655 speed auction tv
* Channel 656 Shop Vector +
* Channel 657 eeZee TV
* Channel 658 Ideal Vitality
* Channel 659 Sky Travel Shop
* Channel 660 Gems.tv 2
* Channel 661 Create & Craft
* Channel 662 Teletext Holidays
* Channel 663 Broadband UK
* Channel 664 Golf Pro-Shop
* Channel 666 Max TV
* Channel 670 USave.TV
* Channel 672 GDTV
* Channel 674 Treasures TV
* Channel 675 Broadband UK 2
* Channel 676 Celebrity Shop
* Channel 677 Deal TV
* Channel 678 Price Crash 2
* Channel 679 Cyprus Direct TV
* Channel 680 Look4Less TV
* Channel 681 Price Busters TV

Box Office

* Channel 700 Sky Box Office Previews
* Channel 701-752 Sky Box Office
* Channel 755 Sky Box Office Events
* Channel 756 Sky Box Office HD 1
* Channel 757 Sky Box Office HD 2

Religious

All religious channels FTA.
* Channel 760 The God Channel
* Channel 761 GOD UK
* Channel 762 Wonderful
* Channel 763 TBN Europe
* Channel 764 Daystar
* Channel 765 Revelation
* Channel 766 UCB TV
* Channel 767 INI
* Channel 768 Loveworld TV
* Channel 769 EWTN
* Channel 770 Gospel Channel
* Channel 771 DoveVision TV

International

* Channel 780 B4U Movies (premium)
* Channel 781 B4U Music (FTA)
* Channel 782 Sony TV Asia (premium)
* Channel 783 STAR News
* Channel 784 STAR Plus
* Channel 785 PCNE Chinese (FTA)
* Channel 786 Vectone Urdu
* Channel 787 MTA Muslim TV (FTA)
* Channel 788 Zee TV (premium)
* Channel 789 Zee Music (FTA)
* Channel 790 Zee Cinema (premium)
* Channel 791 Bangla TV (FTA)
* Channel 792 ARY Digital (premium)
* Channel 793 MATV National (FTA)
* Channel 794 Vectone One
* Channel 795 PTV Prime (premium)
* Channel 796 Vectone Tamil
* Channel 797 South For You (premium)
* Channel 798 AlphaEtcPunjabi (premium)
* Channel 799 Al Jazeera (FTA)
* Channel 800 Vectone Bangla
* Channel 801 DW-TV
* Channel 802 TVEi
* Channel 803 Vectone Punjab
* Channel 804 Abu Dhabi TV (FTA)
* Channel 805 TV5MONDE
* Channel 806 MAX (premium)
* Channel 807 Venus TV (FTA)
* Channel 808 Aastha TV (FTA)
* Channel 809 Apna Bazaar (FTA)
* Channel 810 Record TV (FTA)
* Channel 811 Vectone Sinhala
* Channel 812 Vectone Two (FTA)
* Channel 813 Islam Channel (FTA)
* Channel 814 Channel S (FTA)
* Channel 815 GEO UK (FTA)
* Channel 816 Zee Gujarati (premium)
* Channel 817 DM Digital(FTA)
* Channel 819 ARY Oneworld (FTA)
* Channel 820 ARY QTV (FTA)
* Channel 821 Vectone 2U (FTA)
* Channel 822 DM Islam TV (FTA)
* Channel 823 ARY The Musik (FTA)
* Channel 824 AAG TV

Gaming and Dating

* Channel 840 iPlay (FTA)
* Channel 841 AVAGO (FTA)
* Channel 842 Quiz Nation (FTA)
* Channel 843 PokerZone (FTA)
* Channel 844 All In Sport (FTA)
* Channel 845 Sky Vegas 845
* Channel 846 Sky Vegas 846
* Channel 847 Live Roulette TV (FTA)
* Channel 848 Jackpot TV (FTA)
* Channel 849 BIG GAME TV! (FTA)
* Channel 850 You Play TV (FTA)
* Channel 854 Channel 854 (FTA)
* Channel 855 Quiz Call (FTA)
* Channel 856 ITV Play
* Channel 870 Dating Channel (FTA)
* Channel 871 GayDate TV (FTA)
* Channel 873 Gay Network (FTA)
* Channel 874 Chat Box (FTA)

Specialist

* Channel 880 Teachers' TV (FTA)
* Channel 881 Pub Channel (premium)
* Channel 882 Sky Venue (Commercial Premises Only)
* Channel 883 Open Access (FTA)
* Channel 884 Audi Channel (FTA)
* Channel 885 Legal TV (FTA)
* Channel 886 Psychic TV (FTA)

Adult (most premium, all disabled on child-friendly EPG)

* Channel 900 Playboy TV
* Channel 901 Adult Channel
* Channel 902 Spice Extreme
* Channel 903 Television X
* Channel 904 Television X 2
* Channel 905 Television X 3
* Channel 906 Babestation (FTA)
* Channel 908 Friendly TV (FTA)
* Channel 909 Babeworld (FTA)
* Channel 910 Get Lucky TV (FTA)
* Channel 911 Lucky Star (FTA)
* Channel 912 Playboy One (FTA)
* Channel 913 You TV 2 (FTA)
* Channel 914 You TV 2 Extra (FTA)
* Channel 915 Turn On TV (FTA)
* Channel 916 Look 4 Love TV (FTA)
* Channel 917 Television X 4
* Channel 918 Look 4 Love 2 TV (FTA)
* Channel 919 Star Bazaar TV (FTA)
* Channel 920 Climax3~1
* Channel 921 Climax3~2
* Channel 922 Climax3~3
* Channel 923 Sport XXX Babes
* Channel 924 Red Hot Rears
* Channel 925 Red Hot 40+ Wives
* Channel 926 Red Hot Amateur
* Channel 927 Red Hot Raw
* Channel 928 Red Hot Wives
* Channel 929 Red Hot Climax
* Channel 930 Red Hot All Girl
* Channel 931 Red Hot Reality
* Channel 932 Xplicit XXX
* Channel 933 Playboy TV
* Channel 934 Adult Channel
* Channel 935 Spice Extreme
* Channel 936 Hustler TV UK
* Channel 937 100% Babes
* Channel 938 XXX TV
* Channel 939 Amateur Babes
* Channel 940 Gay TV
* Channel 941 Sport XXX Girls
* Channel 942 Sport XXX Wives
* Channel 944 18 Plus Movies
* Channel 945 18 Plus Movies
* Channel 946 18 Plus Movies
* Channel 947 18 Plus Movies
* Channel 948 18 Plus Movies
* Channel 949 18 Plus Movies
* Channel 950 18 Plus Movies
* Channel 951 trade.tv
* Channel 952 Private 1
* Channel 953 Private 2
* Channel 959 Honey TV (FTA)

Other

All BBC regions FTA, ITV 1 London with audio description FTA, Channel 4 with audio description FTV. EPG 971-992, UK only.
* Channel 971 BBC One Scotland
* Channel 972 BBC One Wales
* Channel 973 BBC One Northern Ireland
* Channel 974 BBC One London
* Channel 975 BBC One North East & Cumbria
* Channel 976 BBC One Yorkshire
* Channel 977 BBC One East Yorks and Lincs
* Channel 978 BBC One North West
* Channel 979 BBC One West Midlands
* Channel 980 BBC One East Midlands
* Channel 981 BBC One East (E)
* Channel 982 BBC One East (W)
* Channel 983 BBC One South East
* Channel 984 BBC One South
* Channel 985 BBC One Oxford
* Channel 986 BBC One West
* Channel 987 BBC One South West
* Channel 988 BBC One Channel Islands
* Channel 989 BBC Two England
* Channel 990 BBC Two Scotland
* Channel 991 BBC 2W
* Channel 992 BBC Two NI
* Channel 993 ITV1 London (AD)
* Channel 994 Channel 4 (AD)

Sky Information

* Channel 899 Sky Customer Channel (FTA)
* Channel 970 Sky Customer Channel (FTA)
* Channel 995 Sky Retail Info HD (Retailers Only)
* Channel 996 Channel Line-up (FTA)
* Channel 997 Sky Retail Info (Retailers Only)
* Channel 998 Sky Welcome (FTA)
* Channel 999 Sky Customer Channel (FTA)

External links

*Sky.com — Official Site
*Free channels on Sky Digital
*Digital Spy: Sky News & Discussion Forums
*Free to air channels on Sky
*Latest News From Sky From Media 247

Sky Digital (UK): Encyclopedia BETA

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